The Center for Aquatic Research at Keuka College is made up of both faculty and undergraduate students.
Current Researchers (2009)
Dr. Tim Sellers, Director, Associate Professor of Biology and Env. Science
Tim Sellers at tsellers_at_keuka.edu
BA, Environmental Science, University of Colorado, Boulder
MS, Biology, University of Louisville
PhD, Environmental Biology, University of Louisville
Postdoctoral Fellow, Ecosystem Modeling Group, Dept. of Oceanography, Texas A&M University
Felicia Lenzo, sophomore Biochemistry major. Felicia is developing mathematical models of light attenuation in Keuka Lake to help determine how and why we see a distinct deep chlorophyll layer just below the thermocline. (Felicia is currently completing a Summer Field Period with CAR – Summer 2009.)
Dominique Derminio, sophomore Biochemistry major. Dominique is looking at the phytoplankton community of Keuka Lake, specifically the increasing presence of the cyanobacteria Microcystis.
Aimee Vilardo, sophomore Biology major. Aimee is investigating the role of phytoplankton in trihalomethane production in drinking water (lake water that has been disinfected with chlorine).Past Researchers
Matthew Beckwith (KC 2006). Matt worked on nutrient limitation of Keuka Lake phytoplankton using microcosm bioassay experiments. (You can view some of his work here.) Matt just completed his M.S. degree in Biology at Virginia Commonwealth University.Articles about Matt’s work with the Center:
http://www.keuka.edu/communications/KCcurrents/102805/cover.htm
http://fli.hws.edu/showrelease.asp?id=20019
http://fli.hws.edu/pdf/conference2005/StudentWinnerpressrelease.pdf
http://www.keuka.edu/communications/news/News_releases/2005-2006/mattbeckwith.pdf
http://fli.hws.edu/showrelease.asp?id=23265
http://www.keuka.edu/communications/NewsReleaseItem.php?ReleaseItemID=15
http://fli.hws.edu/pdf/FLI_news_spr06.pdf
http://www.keuka.edu/communications/KCcurrents/110306/features.htm
http://fli.hws.edu/pdf/RASFinalReport.pdf
Nicole Kelver (KC 2007). Nicole (along with Jessica, below) investigated the effects of container size and geometry on phytoplankton growth rates in microcosms. Nicole is currently pursuing her DVM degree at Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine.
http://www.dominican.edu/query/ncur/display_ncur.php?id=2683
Jessica King (KC 2007). Jessica worked with Nicole on the microcosm experiments. Jessica recently finished her MS degree in Biology at SUNY Potsdam. After receiving a somewhat cryptic text message, it is believed that Jessica will be starting medical school at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in the fall of 2009.
http://www.dominican.edu/query/ncur/display_ncur.php?id=2683
Josh Lankford (KC 2008). Josh worked on a number of projects including calculating conversion factors between microcosm experiments and ecosystem level processes, and initial work on the effects of the deep chlorophyll layer found in Keuka Lake. His research work was accepted at the 2008 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). See his NCUR abstract here. Josh also worked on the Owasco Lake water quality project during the summer of 2007. The paper can be found here. Josh’s current whereabouts are unknown, but we would love to hear from him!
Adam Colandrea (KC 2008). Adam provided invaluable lab and field assitance working on the joint Owasco Lake ecosystem project during 2007. Adam ran the lab during the summer and eagerly provided insight and innovation in solving a number of field and lab problems. You can see the Owasco Lake water quality research paper here (Adam was a co-author). Adam is currently in New York Chiropractic College’s Doctor of Chiropractic Program.